Automatic train-pipe valve.



F. H. FOSTER.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE VALVE.

'APPLICATION FILED SEPT.74 1915.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

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Inventor Witnesses Attorneys FRED H. FOSTER, OF OXFORD, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. @1, 191.5.

Original application filed April 30, 1915. Serial No. 24,976. Divided and this application filed September '7,

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, Final) H. Fosrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at OX- tord, in the county of Benton and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Automatic Train-Pipe Valve, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to an automatic train pipe valve, this application. being a division of the application filed April 30, 1915, Serial No. 24,976, which has matured into Patent No. 1,151,939, Aug. 31, 1915.

It is the object of the invention to provide a novel and improved valve device coiip crating with the train pipe sections which carry the coupling members, whereby when the cars are coupled, the passage through the train. pipe sections is opened, the passage through the train pipe sections being closed when the cars are uncoupled.

It is also the object of the invention to provide a valve mechanism of the nature indicated which is of novel and improved construction to enhance the utility and elliciency thereof, the device also being comparatively simple, compact and inexpensive in construction.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in thecombination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the valve device and a coupling for the train pipe sections, portions being broken away. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the valve device. Fig. 3 is an enlarged tragmental detail of the valve device.

The present device is adapted especially for use in conjunction with the automatic train pipe coupling disclosed in the above mentioned application, or an equivalent coupling.

In the drawing there is designated generally by the reference character 1, an automatic train pipe coupling, there being one of these between each pair of cars, and each Serial No. 49,290.

car is equipped with a valve device 2 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The members of the coupling 1 are carried by the respective train pipe secti ons 4- of the cars, and the adjacent ends of the train pipe sections 4 of each car are slidably received by the valve device 2.

This valve device embodies a cylinder 11 comprising two sections 15, each of which has an open end and an annular outturned flange 16 around its open end. The flanges 16 of the two sections 15 are secured together by means of bolts 17 or other suitable securing elements, and pairs of oppositely projecting members 18 are disposed within the open or adjacent ends of the sections 15, and are provided with outturned or singularlyextending flanges or ears 19 embedded within the flanges 16 and engaged with the re spective bolts 17. The other or remote ends of the sections 15 are provided with re stricted apertures 20 through which the respective pipe sections 4.- are slidable, suitable packing means 20 being carried by the re mote ends of the sections 15 to embrace the pipe sections l to prevent leakage. A. disk 521 is threaded upon that end of each pipe section 4: which projects within the cylinder 14%, and the disks 21 provide valves for closing the passages between the pipe sections 4 and the cylinder 14 when the pipe sections are separated or projected. The disks 21 are of slightly smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the cylinder 14-, and the pipe sections are provided with lateral apertures 22 adjacent the disks 21. The disks 21 are threaded upon the ends of the pipe sections and close said ends of the pipe sections. A coiled expansion spring 23 is disposed within the cylinder and its ends bear against the disks 21, so as to tend to separate the disks and pipe sections, the in termediate portion of the spring 23 being properly supported and guided by the members 18. The members 18 also provide stops for limiting the movement of the disks 21 toward one another. The remote ends of the cylinder sections 15 are provided with counter bores 24 at the inner ends of the apertures 20, and the sections 15 are provided with tapered or restricted portions 25 between the counter bores 24 and the main bore of the cylinder. The disks 21 are seatable snugly within the portions 25 and against the shoulders between the counter bores 24 and portions 25, the peripheries of the disks 21 being preferably beveled and adapted to fit snugly within the tapered portions 25 when the disks or valves 21 are seated. Coiled wire expansion springs 26 of less tension than the spring 23 are disposed upon the pipe sections 24 between the disks 21 and the bottom walls of the counter bores 2a, and have a slight tendency to move the disks 21 inward, but the tension of the spring 23 is greater than the aggregate ten sion of the two springs 26, so as to hold the disks 21 seated when the pipe sections 1 are released. The air pipe 27 leading to the air brake is connected tothe cylinder let in any suitable manner.

In operation, when the car embodying the valve device 2 is uncoupled from the other cars, the pipe sections 1 will be released, and the spring 23 will thereforeseat the disks or valves 21, and this will close the passages through the pipe sections 1, since the disks 21 being seated within the tapered po-rtions25, will prevent the passage of air between the pipe sections a and cylinder 1 1. lVhen one pipe sections is coupled to the pipe section of another car, it will be forced inwardly against the tension of the spring 23, as illustrated at the left hand side of 2, and the corresponding disk 21 will be unseated, to establish communication between the said pipe section and cylinder 14, whereby the air brake pipe 27 and the respective train pipe section 1 are brought into communication. It is evident that when said disk 21 is unseated. communication is established between the respective pipe section 4r. and the interior oi the cylinder 14:, through the corresponding apertures 22 and the annular space between the disk 21 and the walls oi? the cylinder 11-. When both pipe sections a are moved in- Wardly, the pipe sections will be brought into communication, as is evident, and will also be brought into communication with the pipe 27.

The present apparatus operates entirely automatically, thus eliminating the necessity of the brakeman manually opening and closing the passages through the train pipe sections.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a valve device, a cylinder, a pipe section slidable through each end of the cylinder, disks engaged to those ends of the pipes within the cylinder and closing the same, the disks being of slightly smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the cylinder, coupling members carried by the other ends of the pipe sections, the pipe sections having apertures adjacent said'disks, and an expansion spring between said disks, the cylinder having reduced portions for receiving said disks under the influence of said spring.

2. In a valve device, a cylinder embodying two sections having open ends which are secured together,- members fitting Within the adjacent ends of the sections and having flanges clamped between the ends of said sections, pipe sections slidable through the remote ends of the cylinder sections, coupling members carried by the remote ends oi the pipe sections, disks engaged to those ends t the pipe sections within the cylinder to close the same. the disks being of slightly smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the cylinder. the pipe sections having apertures adjacent the disks, the remote ends of the cylinder sections having reduced portions for receiving said disks when they are separated, and a coiled spring between said disks and guided by said members, said members limiting the movement of the disks toward one another.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto ailixed my sig nature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRET) l-l. FOS'IICR.

\Vitnesses Aunt T. VI-urn, VILLIAM RUNNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

